Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Full Membership Meeting and Convention Delegates

Hear Ye! Hear Ye!

The RRU Executive Board calls the Fall Membership Meeting for Thursday, September 28th5-6pm at the RRU office, 1726 Line Ave.
As a part of the agenda, we will elect delegates to the annual Louisiana Federation of Teachers/School Employees which will take place November 18-20th at the Shreveport Convention Center.  The Red River United is the host local of the 53rd LFT Convention – “IT’S UP TO US!’
Based on the RRU membership, we are eligible to elect and seat 79 delegates. If you are interested in serving as a delegate, please submit your name to the RRU office by the close of the day September 25th The RRU Nominations Committee will certify all eligible delegates.  The election of the delegates will take place at the Membership Meeting on September 28th.  The delegates will be elected by secret ballot and you must be present to accept the nomination.
As a delegate, you represent your local.  You attend all meetings and workshops and vote in behalf of the interest of your organization. The Red River United will pay your delegate fee which includes lunch and the social on the 19th and breakfast on the 20th.
We are excited to host the convention and seat all 79 delegates.  We have worked hard to ensure this is a convention for everyone.  Our keynote speaker is Erin Gruwell. She is the inspiration of the movie –Freedom Writers .  It was her unique teaching method that led to the publication of The Freedom Writers Diary- How a Teacher and 150 Teens Used Writing to Change Themselves and the World Around Them.
 
Christine Pelllegrino, New York teacher turned New York legislator, will be here to share how she came to believe that it really was up to her.  Based on her belief in her community and the importance of their voices being heard when it came to local schools,  she took a stand by running for the legislature, and won!
And, hopefully, the First Lady of the Louisiana, Donna Edwards, will be present for our breakfast on Monday to share JBE’s vision for public education.
Our workshops will include VAM, Community Schools, It’s Up to Us and what that means; Social Security Offset and Windfall Elimination, and much more.
It is no small feat that with 3,000 plus members we are the largest local in the state and the largest non-collective bargaining local in the south.  We truly do exemplify the theme of IT’S UP TO US!  Let’s do it again at the upcoming LFT Convention.

Technology Training- Google Classroom Basics and Google Drive and Apps

We are offering two mini-sessions of technology training.  You can attend one or both- it’s entirely up to you!  Simply email jthomas@redriverunited.org to reserve your seat. Both sessions will be offered at our office.

Red River United

1726 Line Ave.

Shreveport, LA 71101

318-424-4579

Tuesday, September 19, 4:00-5:00 PM

Google Classroom Basics – Have you ever wanted a place online where your students could collaborate and submit? Also, a place where you had control to comment and grade their work all in one place? Well, Google Classroom is what you have been looking for! Come learn how to get started with Google Classroom and all of the wonderful things you can do with it!

Tuesday, September 26, 4:00-5:00 PM

Google Drive & Apps – Google Drive is an extensive resource that has many uses. Come to this session to learn how to use Drive for storage, for collaboration, for sharing, and so much more! You didn’t know Drive could do this much!

TAP Training for Caddo Teachers

On Thursday, August 3rd from 2:00-5:00 PM, Red River United will host a TAP Training for all Caddo teachers at our office on Line Avenue.

Dr. Bridgette Brown, Caddo Parish’s District Executive Master Teacher, will cover the ins and outs of the TAP rubric and what teachers should expect for observations for the 2017-2018 school year.

Please RSVP by calling our office at 318-424-4579 or by emailing Jordan Thomas at jthomas@redriverunited.org.

 

Who: All Caddo teachers

What: TAP Training

Where: 1726 Line Ave., Shreveport, LA 71101

When: Thursday, August 3rd from 2:00-5:00 PM

Why: All teachers will be evaluated using the TAP Instructional Rubric beginning THIS school year, and we hope to ensure everyone is informed and ready!

RRU Professional Learning Opportunities

July 25- Culturally Responsive Teaching 

9:00 AM- 1:45 PM

July 28- Worksite Team Leader Training

10:00 AM-12:00 PM OR 1:00 PM-3:00 PM

August 1- Worksite Team Leader Training

10:00 AM-12:00 PM OR 1:00 PM-3:00 PM

August 3- TAP Training

9:00 AM- 12:00 PM

August 26- Know Your Rights: Student Learning Targets

9:00 AM- 11:00 AM

September 9- Know Your Rights: Observations

9:00 AM- 11:00 AM

All professional learning opportunities will take place at our local office.

1726 Line Avenue

Shreveport, LA 71101

318-424-4579

A Letter to Teachers from Our LFT President

Dear Teachers,

I want to send a heartfelt thank you for the hard work you do every day. Rain or shine, you all show up in more ways than one. You’re tasked with the most rewarding and challenging jobs: educating the next generation of teachers, doctors, professional athletes, scientists, CEOs, movie stars, and perhaps even a future senator or president! For many students you are more than just their teacher; you’re their confidant, the person they turn to and trust when they need help or when they are scared.

When I became President of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers (LFT), I made it my mission to challenge myself to engage with teachers across the state. Already I have visited 8 locals/parishes, and sat down with local leaders and teachers at their monthly meetings, their back to school events, and committee meetings. I’ve heard first hand some of the issues you are facing in your schools and parishes and I am committed to making things better. Already I have been able to bring back some of what I heard to the LFT executive council and to legislators at the Capitol. I want to help come up with solutions that work for you.

The school year is almost over, and many of you will continue engaging with students through the summer to ensure they’re prepared to tackle the 2017-2018 school year. This summer I’ll also be working with you and your local leaders to provide the resources you need.

Thank you for all your hard work and dedication. As I travel across the state, I hope to meet you and thank you personally.

 

In Solidarity,

Larry J. Carter, President

Louisiana Federation of Teachers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Midway Elementary Walk In

Red River United and Caddo Parish Schools walked in today with Midway Elementary Professional Development School to celebrate the school’s growth and the promise of public education. Thank you to the Mr. Rainey, the faculty and staff, and the scholars of Midway for allowing us to celebrate YOUR success and dedication to public education! #allinforpubliced#midwayisthepathwaytoexcellence #reclaimoFullSizeRender (9) FullSizeRender (10) FullSizeRender (11) FullSizeRender (12) FullSizeRender (13) FullSizeRender (14) FullSizeRender (15) FullSizeRender (16) FullSizeRender (17) IMG_2565 IMG_2567 IMG_2575 IMG_2585 IMG_2597 IMG_2602 IMG_2604 IMG_2609 IMG_2610 IMG_2611 IMG_2612 IMG_2614 IMG_2616 (1) IMG_2617 (1) IMG_2618 (1) IMG_2620 (1) IMG_2621 (1)

urschools

To All Affiliated and Unaffiliated Local Unions Officers and Delegates:

***REMINDER***

There are only (3) days left to vote early for the April 29, 2017 Millage Renewals and Rededication Special Election

Please note these are renewals of existing millages, not increases in

millage rates.  We can accomplish our goals if we continue to maintain a united front when voting.

Please vote Yes on Saturday, April 29, 2017 if you are not able to vote early.

 

Please encourage your membership to participate in the early voting process.

 

Early Voting for the April 29th Election

Thursday, April 20th, Friday, April 21st, and  Saturday April 22nd – 8:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

 

 

Early Voting is at the Registrar of Voters Office, 525 Marshall Street, Suite 103, in downtown Shreveport across from the courthouse.

 

Tell your family and friends that we need their support and urge them to vote early. 

 

Reminder:  Take your photo identification with you to the polls. 

Red River United In the News with a Pay Raise Update

5% pay raise across the board for all Caddo employees.  No insurance price increases. no reduction in force, and both active and retired employee organizations are in agreement.

However, while it appears the board will vote in our favor,  this is not a done deal.  The CPSB will vote on Tuesday, May 16th.  Be on the lookout for an invite to our prayer vigil on Wednesday, May 10th.

Red River United Pay Raise Update- President Jackie Lansdale on Channel 6

UPDATE ON EMPLOYEE PAY RAISE!

Media Advisory for Caddo Parish Pay raise

April 7, 2017

For more information contact Jackie Lansdale at jlansdale@redriverunited.org (318) 518-4581

Representatives of Caddo Retired Teacher’s Association, Caddo -Bossier Retired Teacher’s Association, Red River United, Caddo Association of Educators and APEL have met with the CPSB staff to discuss options for both funding employee pay raises and maintaining competitive benefits for both active and retired members. We came up with joint recommendations that will be presented to Dr. Goree to consider presenting to the Board Insurance/ Finance Committee in the upcoming budget work session. We are pleased with the mutual agreement of all groups represented. Details to follow.